I missed my Friday post last week, and don’t you believe for a second that I wasn’t thinking about it all weekend long. It haunted me that I couldn’t keep a simple schedule for more than a few weeks…
I had a good reason in the end, but no good excuses.
Last weekend at Kipper’s Melee I won two different Best Sportsmanship/Favourite Opponent awards. I played in the Saturday night Malifaux event, which is literally the most fun a man can have with a deck of cards, and somehow managed to convince 3 people that I was an amazing guy. The next day, I was stunned to hear that I won Sports for Fantasy.
I wasn’t stunned because of false modesty, but because I feel like in Warhammer that I haven’t provided the same kind of game that I used to.
When I was young…no, that’s not a good story. But I still remember my first tournament – I remember it very well, because I have a Best Sportsman trophy from that tournament! I was playing Night Goblins (no Orcs), and I laughed my ass off every time something random happened to the little guys. I deserved that trophy, I think, because my opponents had the time of their life. They had so much fun, that 8 years later I randomly ran into a guy at Science World and he remembered me and my army and we laughed at it again.
Now I have a couple Best Sportsman wins years later, but I feel like I don’t give that game anymore. I’m trying to hard, and I’m caring to much about the game and winning and doing my best, to give that balls-to-the-wall kind of game where it just doesn’t matter. I’ve been influenced by tactics and strategies, and a certain disappointment when they all fall through. I can’t be giving The Face, otherwise I wouldn’t win these things. But I feel disappointed, and I find it odd that my opponents can’t feel that coming from me. Stunned, because I thought it was obvious.
I guess it isn’t obvious, and I guess my opponents are having the best god damn game of Warhammer of their lives whenever I play. 🙂
Jamie has the right of it. It doesn’t matter.
3 Comments
Duke
November 4, 2013 at 2:48 pmA few things:
– I know from my other readings that some blog platforms allow you to pre-write posts and have them auto-release on a schedule. If you had the time/desire, you could write your weekly post whenever, even write a few up at once, and just queue them up for automatic publishing. We the audience wouldn’t know the difference.
– Jamie is right. I remember at Astro II back in 2002, I came in second in Sportsmanship. Ever since, I’ve tried to get back there, but I’ve watched my scores continue to fall back to middle of the pack. It’s been disappointing, and I’ve made conscious efforts to “be more fun”, but it hasn’t seemed to help my score and has just given more stress. In the end, it’s more about relaxing and enjoying yourself that concentrating on giving your opponent an amazing game. The more fun you have (following Wheaton’s Law), the more fun they will have. The fact that you’re successful is awesome, and a good reason why you keep winning those awards.
– Nice card. :p
Craig Fleming
November 4, 2013 at 4:41 pmI do schedule my posts. >.> Just this weekend I didn’t have any time between OT at work, painting last minute models and ensuring the lady was happy with my schedule. 😛
I need to work on “caring less” in general, gaming is a good place to start. 😛
Thanks! It was given to me one day, attached to a jar of Nutella. <3
Derrick
November 5, 2013 at 5:43 pmI don’t think being the best sportsman means that you don’t play to win, use tactics, or pay attention to your play. I think it’s more than just being fun/funny. It’s giving a great game all around.
I love being across the table from you because you’re all there. You’re invested in the game and present in the moment. That doesn’t mean you don’t get frustrated or disappointed and let it show sometimes. It doesn’t mean you have to always force a smile when you get shit-kicked. I think a big part of being a good sportsman is caring about what we’re doing – the game we’re playing together in that moment. You play with your opponent, not just against them. I think that’s a big part of being a great sportsman, and a big part of why I wish I could play across from you more often.